Former Premier League footballer Andy Townsend has been accused of 'sexism' over his choice of language while talking to Chelsea Ladies star Eni Aluko on the radio.
Townsend, who was hosting a BBC 5Live show, was discussing the form of Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin when he uttered the remark last night.
Speaking to Ian Wright and Aluko on the Monday Night Club show, he called the England star 'love' - and it didn't go down well with listeners.
Referring to the Everton player's poor form, Aluko put it down to a lack of confidence, adding: "I think that he is a shadow of the player he was at Southampton."
Townsend, 54, then replied: "But is that confidence? Is that just confidence, love, or do you not think it's a little bit of guts and heart?"
The presenter, who played for clubs including Chelsea and Aston Villa, immediately came in for criticism, with some accusing him of 'sexism'.
Earlier this year, Nigeria-born Aluko was at the the centre of a racism row involving then-England manager Mark Sampson.
She accused him of telling her to make sure her Nigerian relatives did not bring the ebola virus to a match - an allegation he denied.
The FA, after reviewing new evidence, decided Sampson's comments had been racially discriminatory.
However, a barrister later found he was not racist and dismissed Aluko’s claim that she had been the victim of serial bullying by Sampson.
Mirror Online has contacted BBC for a comment.